Football
Andrew Jackson Oryada Snr, KweséESPN 6y

Mutebi concerned about KCCA FC's chances in Ethiopia

Head coach Mike Mutebi is concerned about KCCA FC's chances of reaching the CAF Champions League group stage after they were held 0-0 by Saint George in the first leg of their First Round clash on Wednesday.

The Ugandan champions were not at their free-flowing best to down CNaPS Sport of Madagascar in the Preliminary Round, and again struggled to create chances against the Ethiopian heavyweights in Addis Ababa.

"I cannot be confident because we played a team that kept the ball well and created many scoring chances," Mutebi told KCCA's official media team. "Their strikers were simply in a hurry to score.

"Although we have the advantage playing on our artificial turf, the return leg will be very difficult," he added. "Any team that will score first will have the advantage although the game could go either way."

KCCA were boosted by the returns from injury of Muzamir Mutyaba and Julius Poloto, and Mutebi hopes that they can sharpen their approach in the league games to come between now and the second leg on March 17.

"The few meager games we shall play back home will help us prepare better for this crucial return leg," the coach concluded.

Last year, KCCA came close to qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League but conceded a late goal to Mamelodi Sundowns and dropped into the Confederation Cup instead.

The other teams in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) face an uphill task in the return legs of the Champions League First Round matches.

Kenya's Gor Mahia were held to a goalless draw at home to Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), while Rwanda's Rayon Sport were held 0-0 by Sundowns.

Young Africans of Tanzania were defeated 2-1 by Botswana's Township Rollers on Tuesday and have their work cut out to progress in the return match in Gaborone.

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